Chapter 141
“…Borrowing someone else’s body?”
When Alice asked again, not understanding immediately, the deity nodded and answered:
“Yes. I mean that I would possess a human body and descend to this land.”
“…Is that possible?”
“In theory, yes. Though the risks are significant.”
Risks…
It was an ominous word, but it would be better than the dark specter destroying the world.
Alice solemnly asked:
“What exactly needs to be done?”
“The ancient magic circle was created by me when this world was formed. Since there was no temple system at that time, I communicated with my children through magic circles.”
That magic circle contained my power, so it was enchanted with magic that could traverse dimensions.
The deity added in a low voice and continued speaking, recalling the dark past:
“But eventually, a problem arose because of that power to cross dimensions. The dark specter, which should have remained underground, secretly entered this world through my magic circle. The specter rapidly built its power and threw the world into chaos.”
Alice gradually shrank back at the deity’s dark gaze.
“So as I told you before, I found the dark specter and sealed it beneath my magic circle. And I ordered my children to destroy all ancient magic circles to ensure it could never escape again. Of course, one of my children betrayed me, and one magic circle remained.”
The deity lowered his gaze as if hiding his anger, then looked at Alice and said:
“Ironically, now it’s because of that magic circle that I can somehow descend to this land. If timed to coincide with the moment the specter breaks the seal, the specter’s power will mask me temporarily.”
“Then let me do it. Possess my body.”
When Alice spoke resolutely, the deity firmly shook his head.
“That’s not possible.”
“Why…? You said you need to possess someone else’s body to come down. And I’m the closest to you, Lord Helios.”
“I told you. The risks are significant.”
Helios clicked his tongue and continued:
“Until now, I have never possessed a human body. I only know the theory that naturally strong humans can accept a deity’s spiritual body. Therefore, I cannot be certain what will happen to that human after accepting my spiritual body, or whether they will survive after everything is over.”
I can’t let you bear such risks.
Alice stared at the deity and cautiously asked:
“If not me… what about High Priest Prion?”
Alice suddenly thought of him.
If she couldn’t do it, the only human in this world who was naturally strong and close to the deity was High Priest Prion.
Wasn’t he the designated next Pope?
She asked just in case, but as expected, the deity shook his head.
“No. Prion is someone who must accomplish important things in this world. If that child dies, even if the dark specter disappears, it would shake the grand fate of this world.”
“Then… what should we do? Most naturally strong humans would have been chosen by you, Lord Helios, but you say they can’t be used because they have important destinies…”
Just as Alice was about to suggest using herself again out of frustration, the deity said:
“I will find someone else. A strong human who has not received my selection. And someone who wasn’t born with a special destiny, so it wouldn’t matter if they died.”
Alice’s face froze instantly.
This was because what the deity had just said was too… cruel.
A human who wouldn’t matter if they died.
In the end, the deity was looking for a sacrifice.
Sacrificing one person to save the world…
Yes, of course, the deity needed to protect this world, the greater good, so choosing a path that saves everyone through a single sacrifice made sense.
But because Alice was a mere human, not a deity looking down upon the world, the idea of sacrificing someone in her place didn’t sit well with her.
Honestly, she felt guilty.
As if sensing Alice’s heavy guilt, the deity spoke slowly:
“…They might not die. The idea that they will die is just my assumption. No one knows what will happen.”
It was a lie.
The deity was almost certain. The human who received his spiritual body would ultimately die.
But he changed his words because Alice seemed too troubled.
“But… there’s still a high possibility of death, right…?”
Looking at Alice, the deity spoke with an uncharacteristically heavy voice:
“Alice, this is the best option.”
Alice could say nothing more in response.
Because the deity was right.
They couldn’t let everyone die either.
And… he said they might not die.
Though she didn’t know who it would be, Alice tried to shake off negative thoughts and affirmed they would definitely survive, then asked:
“Can that person be found right away?”
“No. As you said, almost all strong humans are children chosen by me… It won’t be easy to find one.”
The deity narrowed his brow with a “hmm,” then continued:
“Wait for now. Let me learn more about the process of a human accepting a deity, and I’ll try to find a strong human as quickly as possible.”
“…Yes.”
“Quite some time has passed.”
At the deity’s words, Alice turned her head toward the window.
The sunset was pouring through the sanctuary’s large windows, though she hadn’t noticed when the sun had begun to set.
Just as Alice’s gaze was momentarily captivated by the beautiful red light illuminating the sanctuary, the deity said:
“Alice, you should return now. There’s someone who has been waiting for you. I will call you through Prion when I find my answer.”
Someone waiting?
A question settled on Alice’s face, but the deity disappeared.
“Leaving without saying goodbye… I’ll be going now.”
After bidding farewell to the deity’s statue instead of the vanished deity, Alice turned to leave but paused.
Has my appearance returned?
Alice had been so engrossed in her serious conversation with the deity about the dark specter that she hadn’t checked whether her transformation magic had worn off.
The mirror had disappeared along with the deity.
Alice looked at her reflection in the less illuminated glass.
Fortunately, the magic potion’s effect seemed to have worn off. She had returned to being Alice Fordley with pink hair, golden eyes, and cute features.
Alice found her clothes that had been placed in one corner of the sanctuary, took off the maid’s uniform, and quickly changed back into her clothes.
Then she hurriedly left the sanctuary.
Because there was someone waiting for her, as the deity had said.
It wouldn’t be Davit since he had come with her from the beginning… Perhaps Prion was waiting for her.
Alice thought this as she opened the sanctuary door.
But the person waiting for her at the door wasn’t Prion.
Alice called to him with surprised eyes:
“…Your Grace.”
The person standing beside Davit at the sanctuary door was none other than Kylus.
She hadn’t expected Kylus to come to the temple. He had said they would meet at the mansion in the evening.
At that moment, Kylus approached her as she emerged from the door.
Alice involuntarily flinched. It was because she suddenly recalled encountering him at the Empress’s palace.
That ice-cold gaze, as if looking at an inanimate object.
She had unconsciously hesitated as that coldness came to mind. But the Kylus standing before her now was not cold at all.
Rather, his deep eyes were filled with intense emotion for her. So much that Alice could feel it just by looking into his eyes.
He gazed at her intensely.
Only then did Alice’s unconscious anxiety finally subside.
It was because he had returned to being the Kylus she knew well, the Kylus she loved.
Of course, she had also returned from Becca to Alice.
I never want to see him look at me with such cold eyes again.
As Alice was shaking the memory from her mind, Kylus opened his mouth:
“You were at the temple for quite some time, my lady.”
“Ah, I wanted today’s events to go well… I lost track of time while earnestly praying to the deity for help.”
“I see.”
Kylus responded softly while gazing at Alice.
Something… seems different from usual.
Alice sensed a strangely subdued atmosphere from Kylus.
Though his emotion toward her was intense, his expression was oddly dark.
Beyond worry, it seems like anxiety?
What could he be anxious about? Did something happen during the search?
Alice tried to lighten his subdued mood by smiling and changing the subject:
“The search must have ended faster than expected. Judging by you coming to pick me up at the temple…”
Just as Alice was deliberately speaking cheerfully, Kylus suddenly reached out to her.
He carefully touched the pink hair on her shoulder, then cupped her cheek.
“I hurried because I wanted to see you.”
Alice couldn’t say anything for a moment.
It wasn’t because her heart was fluttering from Kylus saying embarrassingly sweet things as usual.
Though his words were clearly cheesy, strangely, his gaze and voice seemed to tremble.
As if he feared losing her.
Why…
Alice couldn’t understand why he was suddenly anxious when he had been so confident even in the courtroom earlier that day.
However, she didn’t ask anything and leaned her cheek into his hand.
Smiling as if to say don’t be anxious, I’m right here in front of you,
“I missed you too, Your Grace.”
It was an embarrassing thing to say, but it wasn’t meant to soothe him—it was genuine.
Because she had missed the gentle him, not the ice-cold one.
Kylus’s fingertips twitched.
Eventually, he lowered the hand that had cupped Alice’s cheek and took her hand.
Kylus spoke to Alice with a gentle smile, the darkness gone from his face:
“Let’s go home.”
“Yes, let’s.”
Though it had been a day where not everything had gone well, Alice had done her best, so she firmly held Kylus’s hand and left the temple.
Hoping that the deity would find the answer to save this world.
